Jay Mitchell (judge)

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Jay Mitchell

|office = Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court

|term_start = January 11, 2019

|term_end = May 19, 2025

|predecessor = James Allen Main

|successor = Bill Lewis

|birth_name = James Letcher Mitchell

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|8|26}}

|birth_place = Mobile, Alabama, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Republican

|spouse = Elizabeth

|education = Birmingham-Southern College (BA)
University of Virginia (JD)

}}

James Letcher "Jay" Mitchell (born August 26, 1976) is an American lawyer from Alabama who was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 2019 to 2025.

Early life and education

Mitchell was born August 26, 1976, in Mobile, Alabama.{{Cite web |url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/27/jay-mitchell-ill-fight-rule-law-alabama-supreme-court-place-four/1750090002/ |title=Jay Mitchell: I'll fight for rule of law on Alabama Supreme Court |date=October 27, 2018 |website=The Montgomery Advertiser |language=en |access-date=December 31, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.lawyercentral.com/james-l-mitchell-interactive-profile--20-711745.html |title=Attorney James L Mitchell |website=www.lawyercentral.com |language=en |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101051524/https://www.lawyercentral.com/james-l-mitchell-interactive-profile--20-711745.html |url-status=dead }} He received his Bachelor of Arts with honors from Birmingham–Southern College. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.{{Cite web |url=https://www.jayforalabama.com/about_jay |title=Jay Mitchell for Alabama Supreme Court |website=Jay Mitchell for Alabama Supreme Court |language=en |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100457/https://www.jayforalabama.com/about_jay |url-status=dead }}

Career

Prior to serving on the Alabama Supreme Court, Mitchell was a partner with Maynard, Cooper & Gale in Birmingham, Alabama.{{Cite web |url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/06/republican-jay-mitchell-defeats-donna-smalley-alabamas-supreme-court-seat/1882184002/ |title=Republican Jay Mitchell defeats Donna Smalley for Alabama's Supreme Court seat |last=Veazey |first=Mary Spencer |last2=Phillips |first2=Alice |date=November 6, 2018 |website=The Montgomery Advertiser |language=en |access-date=December 31, 2018 |last3=Trujillo |first3=Brooke}}

= Alabama Supreme Court =

On June 5, 2016, Mitchell announced his intent to run for the seat on the Alabama Supreme Court being vacated by James Allen Main.{{Cite web |url=https://yellowhammernews.com/birmingham-lawyer-jay-mitchell-announces-candidacy-for-alabama-supreme-court-lhuff/ |title=Birmingham Lawyer Jay Mitchell Announces Candidacy for Alabama Supreme Court |date=June 5, 2017 |website=Yellowhammer News |language=en-US |access-date=December 31, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/06/birmingham_attorney_jay_mitche.html |title=Birmingham attorney Jay Mitchell running for Alabama Supreme Court |date=June 5, 2017 |website=AL.com |language=en-US |access-date=December 31, 2018}} He defeated his Republican rival in the primary{{Cite web |url=http://mountaineagle.com/stories/election-to-include-state-supreme-court-races,15758? |title=Election to include state Supreme Court races |last=Flowers |first=Steve |website=Daily Mountain Eagle |language=en |access-date=December 31, 2018}} and went on to win the general election in November, defeating Democratic candidate Donna Smalley, 60.5%–39.4%.

Mitchell resigned from the Alabama Supreme Court on May 19, 2025.{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Grayson |title=Justice Jay Mitchell resigns from Alabama Supreme Court to run for Attorney General in 2026 |url=https://yellowhammernews.com/justice-jay-mitchell-resigns-from-alabama-supreme-court-to-run-for-attorney-general-in-2026/ |access-date=May 19, 2025 |work=Yellowhammer News |date=May 19, 2025}} Governor Kay Ivey appointed Bill Lewis to serve the remainder of Mitchell's term the following day.{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Grayson |title=Governor Ivey appoints Judge Bill Lewis to fill Alabama Supreme Court vacancy left by Jay Mitchell |url=https://yellowhammernews.com/governor-ivey-appoints-judge-bill-lewis-to-fill-alabama-supreme-court-vacancy-left-by-jay-mitchell/ |access-date=May 20, 2025 |work=Yellowhammer News |date=May 20, 2025}}

= 2026 Alabama Attorney General election =

On May 19, 2025, Mitchell announced that he would run for attorney general of Alabama in 2026.{{cite news |last1=Cason |first1=Mike |title=Alabama Supreme Court justice resigning to run for another office in 2026 |url=https://www.al.com/politics/2025/05/alabama-supreme-court-justice-resigning-to-run-for-another-office-in-2026.html |access-date=May 19, 2025 |work=The Birmingham News |date=May 19, 2025 |language=en}}

Personal life

Mitchell is married to his wife, Elizabeth; they reside in Homewood with their four children. He is a lifelong Republican and a member of the Federalist Society.{{Cite web |url=https://maynardcooper.com/professionals/james-l-jay-mitchell/ |title=James L. "Jay" Mitchell |website=Maynard Cooper |language=en-US |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100359/https://maynardcooper.com/professionals/james-l-jay-mitchell/ |url-status=dead }}

References

External links

{{Ballotpedia|Jay_Mitchell}}

{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court}}|years=2019–2025}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century American judges

Category:Alabama Republicans

Category:Birmingham–Southern College alumni

Category:Justices of the Supreme Court of Alabama

Category:Lawyers from Mobile, Alabama

Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni